Audio highlights from the Brewers Radio Network. For more podcasts, click here.

Carlos Gomez believes he is the Milwaukee Brewers' centerfielder.

He believes he is the team's best option and that there isn't even much question about it.

"I'm telling myself I'm not the fourth outfielder; I'm a starting outfielder," said Gomez, who was activated from the disabled list (concussion) and started in right field for Tuesday night's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Miller Park.

Gomez started for Corey Hart, who is still out with a tight hamstring. And while Gomez said he doesn't care where he starts, as long as he is in the lineup, he made it a point to say that just because Lorenzo Cain is playing center (he started there Tuesday) that doesn't mean Gomez has lost the job.

"They know and I know that I can do the job every day," Gomez said. "I'm the best centerfielder on the team. But Lorenzo is doing a really good job for the last two weeks and it's not fair for me to come off the DL and take his chance. I understand.

"He is a really good player, but I think I'm still the man on this team."

Those comments were relayed to manager Ken Macha before the game and he took a long pause before responding.

"I'll just say that's interesting," Macha said. "You can take that any way you'd like. I'm just saying it's interesting."

With Cain, Gomez and Chris Dickerson on the roster, finding playing time for all three will be a challenge for Macha, who acknowledged that fact by saying, "Nobody said my job would be easy."

But it appears Macha will hold true to his philosophy and use the players who are doing best. Before Tuesday, Cain was hitting .333 (16 for 48) with a .377 on-base percentage in 16 games. Gomez was hitting .228 with a .286 OBP for the season. Dickerson had seven hits in 23 at-bats with two walks in nine games since joining the team through a trade with Cincinnati.

The Brewers likely want to get something out of the trade that sent all-star shortstop J.J. Hardy to Minnesota for Gomez, so Gomez's leash will be longer than normal. Partly because of that, even if Cain continues to outplay Gomez this season, Cain likely will have to win the job again next spring training.

"Let's say we have three centerfielders right now," Macha said. "There well could be an open competition. There's nothing wrong with competition.

"(Cain) is in the lineup tonight and he's playing center field. That should be enough of a statement."

Macha said he won't bury anyone on the bench, giving all three their fair shake in the field.

Gomez isn't concerned about a competition for the position next season but said if he has to win the job, he's confident he can do so. He knows he needs to get on base more but said his speed and defense, attributes Cain also possesses, set him apart from his competition.

"Next year, we'll talk about that," Gomez said. "We'll figure out after the season if I'm going to be the starting centerfielder, the fourth outfielder or if I'll be here (with the team). We have a lot to play still. Cain is a good player but he's only been here two weeks, so they have to see what he is, then they'll (determine) if he's ready.

"Right now I still have the job."

Normal downtrend

Second baseman Rickie Weeks was among the hottest hitters in baseball during June and July. He hit .311 with a .417 OBP in June, collecting five homers and 17 runs batted in. In July he hit .292 with a .392 OBP, nine homers and 20 RBI.

Weeks has slowed down a bit, however. Over the previous 22 games entering play Tuesday, he was hitting .266 with a decent .330 OBP but had only one homer and six RBI, and in his previous four games he was hitting .222 with one RBI and six strikeouts.

Macha said the trend is nothing to worry about. It is simply the ebb and flow of the summer.

"He was so on fire that you're just not going to keep that pace," Macha said. "He's been doing what he normally does. He gets up there, swings hard, lets it rip. He's had some strikeouts lately, but we've gone through spots like that (with him) before.

"You're not going to stay as on fire as he was. You're going to slow down a little bit."

Stay up to date on the Milwaukee Brewers wherever you are with "Milwaukee Baseball," the Journal Sentinel's mobile site for smartphones. Also available in both the Apple and Google Play app stores. Just search "Journal Sentinel baseball."Read more